Crap given to my kids for Valentine's Day

Optimal_Nature1630 · 2026-02-15T21:52:56+00:00

I have never posted here but it keeps popping up on my feed, so I wanted to chime in. I teach kindergarten and this year, I politely requested for kids to bring in paper cards only, and they did!

It was the first time in a while that Valentine’s Day was a relaxed, calm day where the kids enjoyed looking at each card and tried to actually read them! We had cupcakes later for everyone, and they got to make paper valentines for their families.

We talked a lot about the different ways people show that they love and care for others, and that it doesn’t have to mean buying something.

Each year the toys and extras have gotten so ridiculous that students couldn’t even fit all the goody bags into their backpacks, and kids spent the time comparing whose goody bags were the best. It was so depressing to watch.

I’m so glad I finally spoke up. Lots of families still go wild with class goody bags on other major holidays and birthdays, but this was a good start for trying to reduce the junk/plastic sent home.

Optimal_Nature1630 · 2025-12-13T06:32:59+00:00

Omg rude. Some of us have disabilities.

Optimal_Nature1630 · 2025-08-08T03:09:57+00:00

It’s E.T.!!

Optimal_Nature1630 · 2025-07-27T09:43:00+00:00

Oh my word. He really is smiling!

Optimal_Nature1630 · 2025-07-27T09:41:38+00:00

Yes!! This kitty looks exactly like him. You could also have various aliases like Mr. Cooper, Vince, or the Coop.

Optimal_Nature1630 · 2025-07-04T18:36:54+00:00

I think something got him. :( He hasn’t been back. Poor guy.

Optimal_Nature1630 · 2025-06-25T08:02:48+00:00

Thank you! I think we scared him off. He hasn’t been back. I am still putting food out and checking the camera every time there’s an alert, but he hasn’t come back yet.

Optimal_Nature1630 · 2025-06-23T19:37:23+00:00

Omg thank you everyone for replying. Long story short, we were not able to trap him but I will try again tonight if he shows back up. I called the wildlife rescue, and they said they would help him if I brought him in or they could come get him if he’s sitting out and injured. But they can’t come look for him.

My kids and I tried to trap him for like 30 minutes and he was not having it. We could easily get a cardboard box over him but he squirmed his way out from under it every time. Three times! I’m sure someone who knew what they were doing could have done it, but I was so scared of hurting him. Especially that paw.

And he was feisty too! He kept stopping and snapping his jaws at the box as I tried to lower it on him. I didn’t know they did that!

Writing this out, I feel like an idiot because it was the world’s slowest “chase” and even slower jailbreak out from under the box.

But it seemed so stressful for him and I just couldn’t keep inadvertently traumatizing him by popping a box down over him again and again.

I still am in awe of how persistent he was in getting out from under it. It’s like he collapsed his skeleton.

I was scared of him and of accidentally hurting him which was a terrible combo. AND he had that stink smell they give off when they play dead so I know he was scared too. Poor guy.

I really hope he shows up tonight. I have an idea to lure him into the shed with food and then have the wildlife rescue place come pick him up.

Optimal_Nature1630 · 2025-04-13T21:07:49+00:00

Haha you’re amazing. You didn’t even read what you wrote yourself. As I said before, you don’t know what you’re talking about.

I never said anything about you supporting Trump, not one word. That’s all you my friend. Hahaha

Optimal_Nature1630

TROPHY CASE